Monday, August 31, 2015

Defending Champs Colorado, Michigan State Lead Way in Preseason Regional Rankings

 


By Tyler Mayforth, USTFCCCA
August 31, 2015   




NEW ORLEANS – With the dawn of a new Division I Cross Country season upon us, it’s only right that the defending national champions find themselves at the top of the Regional Team Rankings released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (UTSFCCCA) on Monday afternoon.
2014 men’s champion Colorado returns five of its seven runners who competed at last year’s national meet, including five – count them, five – All Americans. Add in two more experienced runners coming off redshirt and a 5-star recruit, it’s easy to see why the Buffaloes lead the Mountain Region and could very well headline the national poll when it makes its season debut tomorrow afternoon.
Likewise, 2014 women’s champion Michigan State sits atop the Great Lakes Region. The Spartans welcome back four of their seven runners from last year’s national meet, with All-Americans Rachele Schulist and Lindsay Clark leading the charge.
Regional Rankings Summary PDF | Division I XC Rankings Central
Of note, all but four defending regional champions are No. 1. Stanford’s men and women, both of whom are pegged to have a big season, dethroned both Oregon teams out West. New Mexico’s women, who have two All Americans from 2014 on their roster (Courtney Frerichs and Alice Wright) usurped Colorado and in the Northeast, Providence‘s women, with all seven runners returning from its NCAA team, toppled Iona.
For the men, 2014 regional champs Wisconsin (Great Lakes), Arkansas (South Central), Villanova (Mid-Atlantic), Syracuse (Northeast), Virginia (Southeast), Oklahoma State (Midwest) and Mississippi (South) all remained entrenched at the top of their respective regions.
For the women, 2014 regional champs Arkansas (South Central), Georgetown (Mid-Atlantic), William and Mary (Southeast), Iowa State (Midwest) and Vanderbilt (South) all earned No. 1 honors.
Men’s teams on the rise include Florida (surging from eighth to third in the South) and New Mexico (jumping from seventh to fourth in the Mountain Region). Squads trending in the other direction were Auburn (third to eighth in the South) and Portland (second to seventh in the West).
Texas‘ women rocketed from seventh in the South Central Region to second, while Montana State rose from 10th last year to fifth to begin the season in the Mountain Region. Toledo (third to ninth, Great Lakes Region) and Kansas State (eighth to 15th, Midwest Region) went the wrong way.
NCAA Division I Regional Championships will be held around the country on Friday, November 13 with the national meet happening eight days later in Louisville, Kentucky.
USTFCCCA Regional Cross Country Rankings are determined subjectively by a single member coach in each respective region. The regional representative is tasked with weighing returning teams strength with current season results (if applicable) in determining predicted team finishes at the NCAA Regional Championships.

USTFCCCA NCAA Division I

Men’s Cross Country Regional Team Rankings

2015 Preseason — August 31

national poll release: September 1
next regional release: September 14
     
GREAT LAKES Region
RankSchoolLocationConference
2014 FINAL
1WisconsinMadison, Wis.Big Ten
1
2IndianaBloomington, Ind.Big Ten
4
3MichiganAnn Arbor, Mich.Big Ten
3
4Michigan StateEast Lansing, Mich.Big Ten
2
5Eastern MichiganYpsilanti, Mich.Mid-American
5
6Notre DameSouth Bend, Ind.ACC
6
7Indiana StateTerre Haute, Ind.Missouri Valley
7
8ButlerIndianapolis, Ind.Big East
8
9IUPUIIndianapolis, Ind.Summit League
9
10Ohio StateColumbus, OhioBig Ten
10
11AkronAkron, OhioMid-American
11
12Central MichiganMount Pleasant, Mich.Mid-American
12
13PurdueWest Lafayette, Ind.Big Ten
13
14CincinnatiCincinnati, OhioAmerican
14
15MilwaukeeMilwaukee, Wis.Horizon
15
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions:
2014: Wisconsin, 2013: Michigan, 2012: Wisconsin, 2011: Wisconsin, 2010: Wisconsin
    
     
MID-ATLANTIC Region
RankSchoolLocationConference
2014 FINAL
1VillanovaVillanova, Pa.Big East
1
2GeorgetownWashington, D.C.Big East
2
3Penn StateState College, Pa.Big Ten
3
4PrincetonPrinceton, N.J.Ivy
4
5NavyAnnapolis, Md.Patriot
5
6PennPhiladelphia, Pa.Ivy
6
7UMBCCatonsville, Md.America East
7
8DuquesnePittsburgh, Pa.Atlantic 10
8
9Saint Joseph’sPhiladelphia, Pa.Atlantic 10
11
10BucknellLewisburg, Pa.Patriot
10
11LehighBethlehem, Pa.Patriot
9
12PittsburghPittsburgh, Pa.ACC
12
13TemplePhiladelphia, Pa.American
16
14MonmouthWest Long Branch, N.J.Metro Atlantic
14
15La SallePhiladelphia, Pa.Atlantic 10
15
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions:
2014: Villanova, 2013: Villanova, 2012: Georgetown, 2011: Georgetown, 2010: Princeton
    
     
MIDWEST Region
RankSchoolLocationConference
2014 FINAL
1Oklahoma StateStillwater, Okla.Big 12
1
2Iowa StateAmes, IowaBig 12
3
3MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minn.Big Ten
4
4TulsaTulsa, Okla.American
2
5IllinoisChampaign, Ill.Big Ten
5
6OklahomaNorman, Okla.Big 12
6
7IowaIowa City, IowaBig Ten
7
8BradleyPeoria, Ill.Missouri Valley
9
9South Dakota StateBrookings, S.D.Summit League
14
10Illinois StateNormal, Ill.Missouri Valley
11
11KansasLawrence, Kan.Big 12
13
12Wichita StateWichita, Kan.Missouri Valley
15
13Loyola-ChicagoChicago, Ill.Missouri Valley
10
14MissouriColumbia, Mo.SEC
17
15North Dakota StateFargo, N.D.Summit League
16
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions:
2014: Oklahoma State, 2013: Oklahoma State, 2012: Oklahoma/Oklahoma State,2011: Oklahoma State, 2010: Oklahoma
    
     
MOUNTAIN Region
RankSchoolLocationConference
2014 FINAL
1ColoradoBoulder, Colo.Pac-12
1
2Northern ArizonaFlagstaff, Ariz.Big Sky
2
3BYUProvo, UtahWest Coast
3
4New MexicoAlbuquerque, N.M.Mountain West
7
5Colorado StateFort Collins, Colo.Mountain West
5
6Southern UtahCedar City, UtahBig Sky
4
7UTEPEl Paso, TexasConference USA
6
8Weber StateOgden, UtahBig Sky
8
9Air ForceColorado Springs, Colo.Mountain West
9
10WyomingLaramie, Wyo.Mountain West
10
11Utah StateLogan, UtahMountain West
11
12Montana StateBozeman, Mont.Big Sky
12
13Utah ValleyOrem, UtahWAC
13
14Texas TechLubbock, TexasBig 12
14
15New Mexico StateLas Cruces, N.M.WAC
15
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions:
2014: Colorado, 2013: Northern Arizona, 2012: Northern Arizona, 2011: BYU, 2010: New Mexico
    
     
NORTHEAST Region
RankSchoolLocationConference
2014 FINAL
1SyracuseSyracuse, N.Y.ACC
1
2IonaNew Rochelle, N.Y.Metro Atlantic
3
3ProvidenceProvidence, R.I.Big East
2
4ColumbiaNew York, N.Y.Ivy
4
5CornellIthaca, N.Y.Ivy
5
6YaleNew Haven, Conn.Ivy
7
7DartmouthHanover, N.H.Ivy
9
8BrownProvidence, R.I.Ivy
8
9HarvardCambridge, Mass.Ivy
6
10CanisiusBuffalo, N.Y.Metro Atlantic
10
11Boston UniversityBoston, Mass.Patriot
12
12BuffaloBuffalo, N.Y.Mid-American
14
13ArmyWest Point, N.Y.Patriot
11
14BinghamtonVestal, N.Y.America East
13
15FordhamBronx, N.Y.Atlantic 10
15
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions:
2014: Syracuse, 2013: Syracuse, 2012: Iona, 2011: Syracuse, 2010: Syracuse
    
     
SOUTH Region
RankSchoolLocationConference
2014 FINAL
1MississippiOxford, Miss.SEC
1
2Florida StateTallahassee, Fla.ACC
2
3FloridaGainesville, Fla.SEC
8
4Middle TennesseeMurfreesboro, Tenn.Conference USA
4
5North FloridaJacksonville, Fla.Atlantic Sun
5
6Georgia TechAtlanta, Ga.ACC
6
7GeorgiaAthens, Ga.SEC
9
8AuburnAuburn, Ala.SEC
3
9LipscombNashville, Tenn.Atlantic Sun
11
10South AlabamaMobile, Ala.Sun Belt
12
11Mississippi StateStarkville, Miss.SEC
14
12TennesseeKnoxville, Tenn.SEC
10
13BelmontNashville, Tenn.Ohio Valley
7
14Tennessee TechCookeville, Tenn.Ohio Valley
NR
15ETSUJohnson City, Tenn.Southern
13
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions:
2014: Mississippi, 2013: Georgia, 2012: Florida State, 2011: Florida State, 2010: Alabama
    
     
SOUTH CENTRAL Region
RankSchoolLocationConference
2014 FINAL
1ArkansasFayetteville, Ark.SEC
1
2TexasAustin, TexasBig 12
2
3North TexasDenton, TexasConference USA
4
4LamarBeaumont, TexasSouthland
3
5Stephen F. AustinNacogdoches, TexasSouthland
5
6UT ArlingtonArlington, TexasSun Belt
6
7Texas A&MCollege Station, TexasSEC
7
8McNeese StateLake Charles, La.Southland
8
9RiceHouston, TexasConference USA
10
10HoustonHouston, TexasAmerican
11
11BaylorWaco, TexasBig 12
12
12Central ArkansasConway, Ark.Southland
9
13Texas A&M-Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi, TexasSouthland
13
14Louisiana-LafayetteLafayette, La.Sun Belt
15
15TulaneNew Orleans, La.American
14
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions:
2014: Arkansas, 2013: Arkansas, 2012: Texas, 2011: Texas, 2010: Arkansas
    
     
SOUTHEAST Region
RankSchoolLocationConference
2014 FINAL
1VirginiaCharlottesville, Va.ACC
1
2FurmanGreenville, S.C.Southern
2
3North CarolinaChapel Hill, N.C.ACC
3
4Eastern KentuckyRichmond, Ky.Ohio Valley
4
5NC StateRaleigh, N.C.ACC
5
6Virginia TechBlacksburg, Va.ACC
6
7LouisvilleLouisville, Ky.ACC
8
8KentuckyLexington, Ky.SEC
9
9Wake ForestWinston-Salem, N.C.ACC
10
10High PointHigh Point, N.C.Big South
7
11DukeDurham, N.C.ACC
NR
12William and MaryWilliamsburg, Va.Colonial
12
13Appalachian StateBoone, N.C.Sun Belt
11
14George MasonFairfax, Va.Atlantic 10
13
15LibertyLynchburg, Va.Big South
15
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions:
2014: Virginia, 2013: Eastern Kentucky, 2012: Virginia, 2011: NC State, 2010: William and Mary
    
     
WEST Region
RankSchoolLocationConference
2014 FINAL
1StanfordPalo Alto, Calif.Pac-12
3
2OregonEugene, Ore.Pac-12
1
3UCLALos Angeles, Calif.Pac-12
4
4Arizona StateTempe, Ariz.Pac-12
6
5WashingtonSeattle, Wash.Pac-12
5
6CaliforniaBerkeley, Calif.Pac-12
9
7PortlandPortland, Ore.West Coast
2
8Boise StateBoise, IdahoMountain West
8
9UC Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, Calif.Big West
7
10GonzagaSpokane, Wash.West Coast
10
11Cal PolySan Luis Obispo, Calif.Big West
12
12Washington StatePullman, Wash.Pac-12
13
13San FranciscoSan Francisco, Calif.West Coast
11
14ArizonaTucson, Ariz.Pac-12
14
15UC DavisDavis, Calif.Big West
19
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions:
2014: Oregon, 2013: Stanford, 2012: Stanford, 2011: Stanford, 2010: Oregon

USTFCCCA NCAA Division I

Women’s Cross Country Regional Team Rankings

2015 Preseason — August 31

national poll release: September 1
next regional release: September 14
     
GREAT LAKES Region
RankSchoolLocationConference
2014 FINAL
1Michigan StateEast Lansing, Mich.Big Ten
1
2WisconsinMadison, Wis.Big Ten
2
3MichiganAnn Arbor, Mich.Big Ten
4
4Notre DameSouth Bend, Ind.ACC
6
5Ohio StateColumbus, OhioBig Ten
5
6IndianaBloomington, Ind.Big Ten
7
7Eastern MichiganYpsilanti, Mich.Mid-American
8
8PurdueWest Lafayette, Ind.Big Ten
10
9ToledoToledo, OhioMid-American
3
10ButlerIndianapolis, Ind.Big East
9
11MarquetteMilwaukee, Wis.Big East
12
12Bowling GreenBowling Green, OhioMid-American
13
13Miami (Ohio)Oxford, OhioMid-American
11
14Central MichiganMount Pleasant, Mich.Mid-American
14
15Western MichiganKalamazoo, Mich.Mid-American
15
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions:
2014: Michigan State, 2013: Michigan, 2012: Michigan, 2011: Michigan, 2010: Michigan State
    
     
MID-ATLANTIC Region
RankSchoolLocationConference
2014 FINAL
1GeorgetownWashington, D.C.Big East
1
2West VirginiaMorgantown, W. Va.Big 12
2
3VillanovaVillanova, Pa.Big East
4
4Penn StateState College, Pa.Big Ten
5
5PrincetonPrinceton, N.J.Ivy
3
6PennPhiladelphia, Pa.Ivy
6
7BucknellLewisburg, Pa.Patriot
8
8DuquesnePittsburgh, Pa.Atlantic 10
7
9NavyAnnapolis, Md.Patriot
9
10RiderLawrenceville, N.J.Metro Atlantic
15
11RutgersPiscataway, N.J.Big Ten
10
12TemplePhiladelphia, Pa.American
22
13PittsburghPittsburgh, Pa.ACC
11
14LehighBethlehem, Pa.Patriot
13
15MarylandCollege Park, Md.Big Ten
14
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions:
2014: Georgetown, 2013: Villanova, 2012: Penn State, 2011: Georgetown/Villanova,2010: Villanova
    
     
MIDWEST Region
RankSchoolLocationConference
2014 FINAL
1Iowa StateAmes, IowaBig 12
1
2MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minn.Big Ten
2
3Oklahoma StateStillwater, Okla.Big 12
5
4BradleyPeoria, Ill.Missouri Valley
3
5TulsaTulsa, Okla.American
4
6South DakotaVermillion, S.D.Summit League
7
7OklahomaNorman, Okla.Big 12
9
8IllinoisChampaign, Ill.Big Ten
10
9MissouriColumbia, Mo.SEC
6
10NorthwesternEvanston, Ill.Big Ten
11
11IowaIowa City, IowaBig Ten
13
12Illinois StateNormal, Ill.Missouri Valley
16
13Wichita StateWichita, Kan.Missouri Valley
12
14KansasLawrence, Kan.Big 12
14
15Kansas StateManhattan, Kan.Big 12
8
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions:
2014: Iowa State, 2013: Iowa State, 2012: Iowa State, 2011: Iowa State, 2010: Iowa State
    
     
MOUNTAIN Region
RankSchoolLocationConference
2014 FINAL
1New MexicoAlbuquerque, N.M.Mountain West
2
2ColoradoBoulder, Colo.Pac-12
1
3BYUProvo, UtahWest Coast
3
4Northern ArizonaFlagstaff, Ariz.Big Sky
4
5Montana StateBozeman, Mont.Big Sky
10
6Colorado StateFort Collins, Colo.Mountain West
6
7UtahSalt Lake City, UtahPac-12
7
8Weber StateOgden, UtahBig Sky
9
9Idaho StatePocatello, IdahoBig Sky
8
10WyomingLaramie, Wyo.Mountain West
5
11MontanaMissoula, Mont.Big Sky
19
12Utah StateLogan, UtahMountain West
16
13NevadaReno, NevadaMountain West
11
14Air ForceColorado Springs, Colo.Mountain West
15
15UTEPEl Paso, TexasConference USA
20
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions:
2014: Colorado, 2013: Colorado, 2012: Weber State, 2011: New Mexico/Colorado,2010: New Mexico
    
     
NORTHEAST Region
RankSchoolLocationConference
2014 FINAL
1ProvidenceProvidence, R.I.Big East
2
2IonaNew Rochelle, N.Y.Metro Atlantic
1
3SyracuseSyracuse, N.Y.ACC
4
4New HampshireDurham, N.H.America East
6
5DartmouthHanover, N.H.Ivy
3
6ColumbiaNew York, N.Y.Ivy
7
7Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, Mass.ACC
5
8CornellIthaca, N.Y.Ivy
9
9BrownProvidence, R.I.Ivy
8
10YaleNew Haven, Conn.Ivy
10
11HarvardCambridge, Mass.Ivy
11
12Stony BrookStony Brook, N.Y.America East
15
13ConnecticutStorrs, Conn.American
12
14Boston UniversityBoston, Mass.Patriot
13
15ArmyWest Point, N.Y.Patriot
14
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions:
2014: Iona, 2013: Providence, 2012: Providence, 2011: Syracuse, 2010: Syracuse
    
     
SOUTH Region
RankSchoolLocationConference
2014 FINAL
1VanderbiltNashville, Tenn.SEC
1
2AlabamaTuscaloosa, Ala.SEC
3
3LipscombNashville, Tenn.Atlantic Sun
4
4Mississippi StateStarkville, Miss.SEC
6
5FloridaGainesville, Fla.SEC
5
6Florida StateTallahassee, Fla.ACC
2
7AuburnAuburn, Ala.SEC
7
8GeorgiaAthens, Ga.SEC
8
9North FloridaJacksonville, Fla.Atlantic Sun
10
10Middle TennesseeMurfreesboro, Tenn.Conference USA
9
11MississippiOxford, Miss.SEC
13
12Georgia TechAtlanta, Ga.ACC
11
13BelmontNashville, Tenn.Ohio Valley
15
14UCFOrlando, Fla.American
14
15Southern MissHattiesburg, Miss.Conference USA
17
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions:
2014: Vanderbilt, 2013: Florida State, 2012: Florida State, 2011: Florida State, 2010: Florida State
    
     
SOUTH CENTRAL Region
RankSchoolLocationConference
2014 FINAL
1ArkansasFayetteville, Ark.SEC
1
2TexasAustin, TexasBig 12
7
3SMUUniversity Park, TexasAmerican
3
4BaylorWaco, TexasBig 12
2
5Texas A&MCollege Station, TexasSEC
6
6RiceHouston, TexasConference USA
5
7North TexasDenton, TexasConference USA
8
8LamarBeaumont, TexasSouthland
4
9Arkansas StateJonesboro, Ark.Sun Belt
10
10Stephen F. AustinNacogdoches, TexasSouthland
9
11UT ArlingtonArlington, TexasSun Belt
11
12LSUBaton Rouge, La.SEC
12
13McNeese StateLake Charles, La.Southland
13
14UTSASan Antonio, TexasConference USA
14
15Sam Houston StateHuntsville, TexasSouthland
15
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions:
2014: Arkansas, 2013: Arkansas, 2012: Arkansas, 2011: Arkansas, 2010: Texas
    
     
SOUTHEAST Region
RankSchoolLocationConference
2014 FINAL
1William and MaryWilliamsburg, Va.Colonial
1
2VirginiaCharlottesville, Va.ACC
2
3North CarolinaChapel Hill, N.C.ACC
3
4NC StateRaleigh, N.C.ACC
5
5Wake ForestWinston-Salem, N.C.ACC
9
6FurmanGreenville, S.C.Southern
6
7Eastern KentuckyRichmond, Ky.Ohio Valley
7
8LouisvilleLouisville, Ky.ACC
10
9Virginia TechBlacksburg, Va.ACC
4
10KentuckyLexington, Ky.SEC
12
11James MadisonHarrisonburg, Va.Colonial
11
12Appalachian StateBoone, N.C.Sun Belt
13
13Coastal CarolinaConway, S.C.Big South
16
14RichmondRichmond, Va.Atlantic 10
14
15ElonElon, N.C.Colonial
8
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions:
2014: William and Mary, 2013: Virginia, 2012: Duke, 2011: Virginia, 2010: Virginia
    
     
WEST Region
RankSchoolLocationConference
2014 FINAL
1StanfordPalo Alto, Calif.Pac-12
3
2OregonEugene, Ore.Pac-12
1
3WashingtonSeattle, Wash.Pac-12
4
4Boise StateBoise, IdahoMountain West
2
5CaliforniaBerkeley, Calif.Pac-12
6
6UCLALos Angeles, Calif.Pac-12
5
7Arizona StateTempe, Ariz.Pac-12
8
8UC DavisDavis, Calif.Big West
11
9PortlandPortland, Ore.West Coast
7
10GonzagaSpokane, Wash.West Coast
16
11Cal PolySan Luis Obispo, Calif.Big West
15
12Eastern WashingtonCheney, Wash.Big Sky
NR
13San FranciscoSan Francisco, Calif.West Coast
12
14Oregon StateCorvallis, Ore.Pac-12
20
15ArizonaTucson, Ariz.Pac-12
10
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions:
2014: Oregon, 2013: Arizona, 2012: Oregon, 2011: Washington, 2010: Washington


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